European Biotechnology

Biotechnology plays an important role across Europe and has been acknowledged as a key enabling technology for the implementation of the bioeconomy. Therefore, biotechnology is part of not only the EU’s but also several national and regional bioeconomy related strategy documents.

Biotechnology in Europe is covered by the European bioeconomy strategy was published in 2018. The update aims to speed up the progression towards a European bioeconomy that will contribute to the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.

The updated bioeconomy strategy proposes a three-tiered action plan:

Strengthen and scale up the bio-based sectors, unlock investments and markets

The European bioeconomy strategy has led to an increase in dedicated R&I funding and investments EU member states. The strategy is implemented through Horizon 2020 (H2020) between 2014 and 2020, and is vital in supporting research, development and technology in the European Research Area (ERA) in order to bring new ideas from the lab to the market.

In addition, the European bioeconomy strategy resulted in a number of national and regional bioeconomy strategies and recommendations across Europe.

1. Strategic Priorities & documents

Strategic priorities:

A sustainable, innovative, and resource-efficient bio-economy, including transition to bioresources - using raw materials, products and waste more sustainably by saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions:

The general national RDI strategy 2014-2020 “Knowledge-based Estonia” mentions information and communication technology, health technologies and services (incl. biotechnology), and more effective use of resources as the three smart specialisation areas for Estonia

For bioeconomy, a specific strategy is not planned in Estonia, but there are several strategic documents underway (to be approved in 2019 and 2020) wherein the field will be reflected (Agricultural and Fisheries Development Plan 2030, the Circular Economy Strategy)

1. Strategic Priorities & documents

This document focuses on 42 orientations and two of them are in the area of non-health biotechnology:Orientation 4: Eco and biotechnologies to support the ecological transition Orientation 21: From production to diversified uses of biomass

1. Strategic Priorities & documents

The National Policy Strategy on Bioeconomy was published in 2013 and set a milestone for a bio-based and sustainable economy. It was prepared with the aim providing a coherent framework for the transformation of a mainly fossil-based economy to a bioeconomy.

In addition, the “National Research Strategy BioEconomy 2030” seeks to foster research and innovation across diverse areas of a bioeconomy. Its intervention areas address the topics of food security, sustainable increase of agricultural production, safe and healthy food products, industrial utilisation of biomass, and conversion of biomass to biofuels and bioenergy. It was developed under lead management of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) in cooperation with six additional ministries.

Presently, a new bioeconomy strategy is being developed under joint leadership of BMBF and BMEL. Its release is planned in 2019.

3. Relevant national infrastructure

The research and development community within academia and industry is very broad in Germany. The following list is a quick overview of the national available infrastructure and by no means comprehensive.

1. Strategic Priorities & documents

Within the Biotech sector, promoting health is a major strategic priority in Israel. Applied research and Translational research - from bench to bedside, utilizing biological systems to develop novel technologies that will improve human health. The field of medical devices is one of wide-spread activity with approximately 570 Israeli companies. A further field evolving in Israel in recent years, and one in which Israel possesses valuable assets that can be leveraged, is that of digital health. These include firstly Israel's technological leadership in the field of data processing and secondly, the information, unique in its scope, stored in Israeli medical files. Government action such as the national program for digital medicine and the Mosaic Initiative seek, among others, to enable Israeli industry and academia to maximize the advantages these assets have to offer.

Industrial landscape: Israel is looking to boost its biotech industry. Two units under the country’s Ministry of Economy have partnered to provide grants to companies looking to make the transition between research and development to manufacturing, mostly in the life sciences domain. The two are the Israel Innovation Authority, which is the government's tech investment arm, and the ministry’s investment center, which is the body in charge of developing the country’s periphery and creating jobs. According to the Israeli Innovation Authority data, around 1,450 life sciences companies currently operate in Israel, most of them founded within the last decade.

2. Funders of biotechnology research, development and innovation

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Description

Recent Funding opportunities

Government:

The Israeli Ministry of Health and the Israeli ministry of science and Technology

1. Strategic Priorities & documents

The Norwegian National Strategy for Biotechnology overlaps with the scientific areas of ERA CoBioTech. It identifies four priority areas where biotechnology can be beneficial in improving the area:

Aquaculture, seafood and marine resource management

Agriculture based food and biomass production

Environment friendly industrial processes and products

Health, health care services and health-related business activities

Over the next years, RCN would like to address research on important tools within biotechnology, e.g. enzymes, microorganisms, microbial systems, SynBio, SysBio, research involving converging technologies, underpinned by Responsible Research and Innovation. This national strategic effort has been named Digital Life Norway.Relevant documents can be found here at RCN's website

BIOSTRATEG: Natural environment, agriculture and forestry – strategic research and development programme (available only in polish)

The National Smart Specialisations (NSS), which covers the topics of a healthy society, agrifood, forestry-timber and environmental bioeconomy, sustainable energy, natural resources and waste management, and innovative technologies and industrial processes.

2. Funders of biotechnology research, development and innovation

national funding: fast track programme which funds all thematic areas (call open until end of 2019) international funding: several upcoming calls on similar topics – list of open calls: https://www.ncbr.gov.pl/aktualne-konkursy/

National Science Centre (NCN)

Funding for academia and single researchers, funding only basic research

1. Strategic Priorities & documents

The Biotechnology areas with the greatest impact in Portugal are pharmaceutical and industrial. Pharmaceutical Biotechnology is mainly linked to the development and sale of biopharmaceuticals, recombinant vaccines and diagnostic methods, which account for 10 billion Euros in sales in the EU, making up 0.25% of gross added value.

The newly developed FCT strategic R&I agendas are now available for the 14 selected thematic areas identified for Portugal where Biotechnology is a transversal topic included in: “Agri-food, Forestry and Biodiversity”, “Ocean”, “Industry and manufacturing”, “sustainable energy systems”, Health, clinical and transnational research” and “Circular economy” – see more at:https://www.fct.pt/agendastematicas/index.phtml.en

2. Funders of biotechnology research, development and innovation

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Description

Recent Funding opportunities

FCT – the main public body in Portugal responsible for funding all scientific areas of research

FCT’s mission is to continuously promote the advancement of knowledge in science and technology in Portugal, attain the highest international standards in quality and competitiveness, in all scientific and technological domains, and encourage its dissemination and contribution to society and to economic growth. More at: https://www.fct.pt/fct

FCT funds regularly, on a yearly basis, all areas of scientific research including Biotechnology in all dimensions for Human resources, institutions, mobility, infrastructures etc.

3. Relevant national infrastructure

Name

Type of infrastructure

Keywords

Associação Portuguesa de BioIndústrias

Cluster – Portugal’s Biotechnology Industry Organization (P-BIO) is the only association that brings together the vast majority of companies linked to the biotechnology and life sciences sector. Since it was founded in 1999, it has been the cornerstone for development and support of biotechnology in Portugal.

1. Strategic Priorities & documents

Strategy “Biotechnology/Life Science Offensive”, Innovation Strategy of the Free State of Saxony (RIS 3- Strategy), Saxon Research and Networking Programme within European Activities for Research and Innovation

1. Strategic Priorities & documents

Spain has The SPANISH STRATEGY ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION Plan. This plan consider biotechnology as a strategic area (see Strengths in Figure 13 SWOT analysis of the Spanish Science, Technology and Innovation System, page 14). Furthermore, biotechnology is included into the ESSENTIAL ENABLING TECHNOLOGIES that have to be promoted because advances in area of biotechnology lay the foundations for future competitive advantages in a broad range of businesses and sectors, due mainly, to the horizontal nature of their applications (see page 23). SPANISH STRATEGY guide the RDI activities, including fundamental scientific and technical research, technological

development and innovation towards the EIGHT GREAT CHALLENGES where biotechnology is included as horizontal area in 1. Health, demographic change and wellbeing, 2. Food safety and quality; productive and sustainable activity; stainability of natural resources, marine and maritime research and indirectly in 3. Safe, sustainable and clean energy and 5. Action on climate change and efficiency in the use of resources and raw materials.

CDTI is the Spanish agency that funds business projects for the creation and significant improvement of a production process, product or service. These projects may comprise both industrial research activities as well as experimental development, in accordance with the definitions of the General Block Exemption Regulation (EC Regulation nº651/2014). It means that our focus is in companies so we are interested in activities focused in industrial sector, mainly SMEs. CDTI has funded many projects in biotechnology area during last years that you can consult from

2. Funders of biotechnology research, development and innovation

Funder

Description

Recent Funding opportunities

MICINN (Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities)

The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, assumes the responsibility for fostering research and innovation, and the management of international relations in this area and the Spanish representation in programs and international organizations, and the EU.

The AEI belongs to the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities and it is responsible for the proposal,management, monitoring and evaluation of the State programmes and the strategic actions of the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and for Innovation 2017- 2020.

CDTI has different instruments to fund R&D&i projects and to create and consolidate technology start-ups. Apart from the funding, the CDTI is entrusted with issuing the Reasoned Report to claim for a tax rebate on R&D&i activities. Within the international area there are also different funding programs for projects and initiatives of cooperation. On the other hand, there are Offices Abroad, which offer support to Spanish companies and promotes the technological international cooperation.

The Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Institute of Health Carlos III, ISCIII) is the main Public Research Entity funding, managing and carrying out biomedical research in Spain. The Institute has been conducting research and providing key services in the life and health sciences for over 20 years. It is also the body responsible for managing Spain's Health Research and Development Strategy within the framework of the National R+D+I Plan.

2. Funders of biotechnology research, development and innovation

Funded through the science budget of the Department of Business, Energy, Industrial Strategy and UKRI funds research and innovation through the seven research councils, Innovate UK and Research England.

Biotechnology is supported by various funding opportunities. Details can be found here